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Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 1
2015 Grants for Women Award Winners $30,000 total will be awarded to four recipients.
http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/grantwinners.html
www.soroptimistfoundation.ca Spring 2015
Editor: Aline Chan [email protected]
ERIN ALBANESE, MA, St. Paul University, Ottawa, Counselling & Spirituality, 2016.
Worked in youth treatment centre as addiction counsellor.
Erin is a full-time student entering her second year of a Master’s degree at Saint Paul University in
Ottawa, studying couple and family therapy. For nearly a decade, she has worked as a counsellor
providing front-line support in various crisis-related environments. This wealth of experience
continues to shape her interests and goals. Erin’s longstanding passion of advocacy for under-
served populations has also been strongly influenced through recurrent exposures to social ine-
quality and adversity.
Fundamentally, Erin believes everyone has a voice. Some are encouraged from early on to use
theirs, while others have become systematically silenced through social custom, expectations or
the threat of physical harm. Erin identifies finding one’s voice as the first step towards empowerment. She hopes to ignite
the spark of those unheard voices and believes that everyone benefits when all voices are considered.
While those who have been previously silenced are likely the benefit most initially, others also reap the reward of a social
dialogue that is transparent and accessible to all. She envisions these changes will create healthier relationships and strong-
er communities. Erin has always been fascinated by the unique dynamics of relationships. Through her studies and experi-
ence, Erin has recognized the dichotomy of what a family unit means to unheard voices. The family unit can influence indi-
viduals in incredible ways. On the one hand, family building, sharing customs and creating life partnerships are the corner-
stones to meaning for many Canadians. On the other hand, historically the family unit has not always benefited all genders
equally. Still today, there are many others who have fallen into unhealthy and suppressing situations. For these individuals,
their relationships represent a barrier to self-actualization at one extreme and a risk to personal safety at the other. Erin be-
lieves that as a Couple and Family Therapist her most important responsibility is to help others understand this dissonance
and create environments based on respect where all parties are equal.
Prior to returning to her academic career, Erin resigned from her role as a lead Addiction Counsellor at a non-profit, com-
munity-based agency that remains the only of its kind in the province. Erin worked with adolescent girls and their families
impacted by issues related to substance abuse and mental health. She was continually astounded and inspired by the resili-
ency, strength and courage these young women exhibited, especially given the majority of who endured unfathomable real-
ities. Unfortunately, not all young people successfully transcend their hardships. Erin was also exposed to the tragic preva-
lence of suicide throughout her career and saw many lives and stories conclude well before they should have. These experi-
ences led Erin to become an advocate of suicide prevention and intervention. She now facilitates ASIST workshops as a cer-
tified trainer teaching these important skills to others.
Erin has never felt more privileged and rewarded professionally than when she has the opportunity to contribute a positive
impact on the lives and futures of those in her community. As an ardent proponent of healthy relationships and well being,
Erin’s objective is to be the voice for those who have not yet discovered their own; for those who have a voice but have not
yet unveiled its power; and to align with those whose powerful voices speak to the same cause.
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 2
GENNA EVELYN, Master of Laws (Fundamental and Collective Rights ) Candidate 2016, Fac-
ulty of Law, Université Laval. LL.B. 2006 University of New Brunswick
Genna Evelyn is a lawyer who graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of New
Brunswick with an LL.B. and is currently completing a Master of Laws degree at Université
Laval. She has recently completed her first year of this program, during which she has com-
pleted coursework in areas such as providing services to those experiencing family violence,
working with the unique needs of sexually diverse communities, providing legal services to
immigrant populations and specialised refugee law studies. Her degree work has also al-
lowed her to study children’s law in-depth and participate in various legal internships and
clinics aimed at supporting Québec’s most vulnerable communities.
Prior to beginning her studies, Genna practiced family, criminal and civil law for over 8 years and has worked with
diverse groups of people in a variety of dispute settings in Ontario, New Brunswick, and the Northwest Territories.
Genna’s legal career started in New Brunswick, where she worked almost exclusively with women and kids at the
Family court, helping mothers to navigate custody battles and kids to get through the trauma of Divorce court. She
found she had an aptitude for working with young offenders, many of whom were teenage girls. In addition to help-
ing them to present their cases in court, she had the chance to work with them one-on-one to help them make realistic
plans to get their lives back on track and focus on their goals. She hoped to be able to specialize in this area of practice
in the future.
When Genna moved to Toronto, she joined a civil litigation firm but also began volunteering with a Youth Restorative
Justice program where she was able to continue her work with youth who were facing challenges with the law. She
knew that she wanted to develop a legal career that focused on the unique needs of this vulnerable population, specifi-
cally with regard to helping young girls navigate criminal and poverty law issues. Realising that she would need to
make significant changes in her career in order to reach her goals, Genna eventually resigned from her position with
the litigation firm in Toronto spent the next year working with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking
in Ghana and Congo. Upon her return to Canada she applied to the Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Université
Laval in Québec City in order to work on becoming bilingual while also studying fundamental rights and children’s
law in depth.
As part of her studies in Quebec, Genna volunteers with organizations in Montreal where she is able to continue to
provide legal support and services to vulnerable groups including people living with HIV and also Montreal’s immi-
grant and refugee community.
Genna’s ultimate goal after she has completed her LL.M. is to be in a position to provide bilingual legal services and
focused support to youth, especially young girls who are either offenders or who are otherwise in need of specialised
legal counsel (i.e. involvement in child protection proceedings, immigration and refugee proceedings, etc.).
The results of the 2015-2016 SIA President-elect mail ballot have been tabulated and all of the candidates
are aware of the results.
Congratulations to RoseMary Reid who has been elected the 2015-2016 President-elect and will assume
that office on September 1, 2015. She will assume the office of SIA President on September 1, 2016, and
will serve in that position through August 31, 2017.
We are pleased to have a Canadian serving as our President-Elect.
RoseMary Reid of Peterborough, Ontario, has served as secretary/treasurer since September 1, 2014. She pre-
pares minutes for board meetings and conventions, as well as oversees Soroptimist's funds and financial
accounts. She is a member of Soroptimist International of Peterborough. A member since 1990, she has held
several leadership positions, including federation board director, region governor and club president. In ad-
dition to her Soroptimist activities, RoseMary is a strong supporter of the YWCA and Cameron House.
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 3
ASHLEY MAJOR, University of Toronto, Juris Doctor, 2017. BA, Human Justice, University of
Regina, 2013. She is studying law and its intersection with women’s rights and interests. She
will be working in New York this summer, with Human Rights Watch, Women’s Rights Divi-
sion.
Ashley Major is pursuing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Toronto. She is in her first year of
studies. Ashley grew up on a farm outside of St.Brieux, Saskatchewan with her parents and three
sisters. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Justice with Great Distinction from the
University of Regina. She was awarded the President’s Medal for being the graduate who best ex-
emplifies a commitment to academic achievement and to community engagement.
Ashley is passionate about addressing injustices perpetuated against women. She was the recipi-
ent of the $10, 000 McDougall Gauley Research Scholarship in her second year of university. Ash-
ley examined the barriers that women face when attempting to reintegrate back into society after serving time in jail. She
also completed an internship at Independent Academic Research Studies, a social justice think-tank in London, UK. Ash-
ley carried out research on the barriers experienced by police and prosecutors when investigating allegations of rape in
London. She focused on the effect that rape myths had upon the investigative and prosecutorial processes.
Ashley worked as a domestic violence counselor at the Regina Transition House. In this role, she counseled women who
had experienced domestic abuse, and helped attend to their particular needs. Ashley also volunteered as a sexual assault
line counselor for the Regina Sexual Assault Centre. She then worked as the Primary Crime Prevention Coordinator for
the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan. In this role, she taught students in Grades 4-8 about the consequences of crim-
inal activity.
Ashley is very excited about the many opportunities that law school has created for her. Ashley served as a first-year rep-
resentative on the Women and the Law Committee. She helped to organize several mentoring and networking events for
female law students. Ashley also joined two working groups that conducted research on violence against women and the
potential effects of the new prostitution laws. Ashley volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada at a sex worker drop-
in clinic. In this role, Ashley worked with a lawyer to provide legal information to the women there. She is also an active
volunteer with Lawyers Feed the Hungry on Sunday mornings.
Ashley is spending this upcoming summer working with Human Rights Watch, Women’s Right’s Division, in New York.
She will be researching how worldwide instances of sexual assault and rape are violations of international law. Ashley is
currently assisting with expanding a current Pro Bono Students Canada low-income will-drafting project to the sex work-
ers from her previous placement. She looks forward to learning more about the law and its intersection with women’s
rights and interests over the course of her degree.
Best for Women serves as the organization's official publication and is
the primary communication vehicle for members. It includes feature
stories about women’s issues and Soroptimist programs; updates on So-
roptimist efforts; and recognition of Soroptimist club and member ac-
complishments. This special online section supplements the printed ver-
sion and features additional content and information.
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards (formerly the Women’s Opportunity Awards) assists women who
provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to
improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 4
THARSINI SIVANANTHAJOTHY, MSc student, School of Public Health, University of
Alberta, 2016; BSc (Honors), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto,
2013. During her first year at the School of Public Health, Tharsini co-founded the U. Alberta
Jericho Project (UJP) with her colleagues.
Tharsini Sivananthajothy is a second year MSc student at the University of Alberta, School of
Public Health, specializing in Global Health. Her research focuses on investigating the mater-
nal health of newcomer women. Specifically, she will explore reasons as to why newcomer
women have higher rates of cesarean sections (C-sections) compared to Canadian born wom-
en while understanding the decision making process when providing such specialized ob-
stetric care to both populations. Healthcare providers will be able to utilize Tharsini’s find-
ings to improve risk communication regarding C-sections both effectively and efficiently to
Canadian born and newcomer women, thereby reducing the overall health and financial bur-
dens due to high C-section rates.
In addition to her thesis, Tharsini has been involved with multiple projects as a Graduate Research Assistant. Recently
she worked extensively on a successful $1 million dollar implementation grant titled “Improving the Standards Based
Management–Recognition Initiative to provide high quality, equitable maternal health services in Malawi” through the
Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa program call for implementation teams funded by the Global Health
Research Initiative, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFAITD) and International Development Re-
search Centre (IDRC). In the summer of 2014, Tharsini was selected for the WCHRI Summer Science Shop Scholarship in
Community Based Research where she conducted a community based descriptive study titled: “Beyond on the Crust: Understanding
perceptions of community engagement held by stakeholders within the family care clinic planning process”. Furthermore, in the Fall
of 2014, Tharsini completed the challenging role of Graduate Teaching Assistant for the graduate biostatistics course at
the School of Public Health.
Tharsini’s passion for public health has provided opportunities to work with communities globally in Kenya and locally
both in Toronto, and Edmonton. She became involved in Students for International Development (SID), a Toronto based
not for profit, in 2012 through the role of Research Associate in Western Province, Kenya. During this term, Tharsini ini-
tiated a pilot deworming program (an initiative that focuses on a neglected disease that debilitates children early in their
life), and evaluation. Since 2012, Tharsini has taken an active role in SID through multiple capacities, including Confer-
ence Coordinator, Alumni Mentor and Kenya Coordinator. She currently serves on the Board of Directors where she
and her colleagues are developing innovative ideas to expand the reach of SID through new initiatives and partnerships.
In Edmonton, she currently serves as an Executive Member of the Steering Committee for the Student Health Initiatives
for the Needs of Edmonton (SHINE) initiative where she assists with planning and programming. The vision of SHINE
is to provide the highest possible level of health and wellbeing to the underserved youth in Edmonton’s inner city. As a
student led initiative, in collaboration with youth, community agencies and the University of Alberta, the program re-
volves around outreach, providing youth with information on navigating the health system, health promotion and pre-
vention. Due to her experience working in public health, she had the unique opportunity to sit on Mayor’s Task Force
on Elimination of Poverty: Health and Wellness Working Group. Through this working group, Tharsini was able to con-
tribute to the discussion on how the wider determinants of health, including poverty, homelessness and substance abuse
impacts the health of Edmontonians, especially its inner city members.
At the School of Public Health, Tharsini has taken many leadership roles and currently serves as the President of the
School of Public Health Students’ Association. During her first year at the School of Public Health, Tharsini co-founded
the U. Alberta Jericho Project (UJP) with her colleagues. This mental wellness initiative was selected as third place in the
university wide Heroes for Health Challenge competition in 2013 and aims to create a mental health strategy for the
School of Public Health, supporting a culture of mentorship and fostering dialogue between students, staff and faculty.
Currently Tharsini and her colleagues are creating a series of recommendations based on student input to realize the
project’s goals. Upon completion of her Master’s degree, Tharsini plans to pursue doctoral training in health policy re-
search, with a focus on immigrant women’s health.
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 5
LET’S BUILD OUR ENDOWMENT FUND Send your Club Donation or Personal Donation to
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada
Sheryl Hopkins , Treasurer
2455 Cunningham Blvd
Peterborough ON K9H 0B2
OR DIRECT—
MAKE SIT It’s fast and easy—fill out the form on the following page and
attach a voided cheque and your donation will be automatically depos-
ited as directed by you! It’s that easy!
GIVE GENEROUSLY
and PROUDLY wear your MAPLE LEAF PIN
The Red Pin is awarded to recog-
nize individual members whose
cumulative donations have
reached $500 plus. The Silver
Pin is added to recognize cumulative donation
amounts totalling $1000 plus, and the Gold Pin
recognizes $2500 plus. For some members
these milestone pins are reached in a relatively
short period of time. For other members, they
represent several years of faithful donations.
Hence, there is a bonding and all pins are worn
with pride in each other.
CLUB GRANTS Club Grants up to $1,000.00 are available annually by applying to the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada. The Foundation may offer five $1,000.00 grants for clubs holding edu-cational programs for women or girls that will help them to be the best that they can be by developing their abilities and their awareness so that these young women can reach their full potential. The exact num-ber of grants and the amounts for those grants shall be determined each fiscal year at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Foun-dation, based on the funds available in that year’s budget and the pro-gram needs of the Clubs applying.
Deadline for Club Grants is June 30th. Applications are available on the website.
Click on Club Grants Application at http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/
Or go directly to http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/application.html#clubs
Completed Applications must be emailed to
[email protected] or to
Anna Der, Manager, Club Grants
Soroptimist Pledge We are Soroptimists committed to:
The Sincerity of Friendship
The Joy of Achievement
The Dignity of Service
The Integrity of Profession
The Love of Country
We will put forth our best efforts to improve
the lives of women and the girls in local
communities and throughout the world.
WOMAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Poem by 2014-2015 SIA Federation President
Margaret "Poco" Davis
She is soft, nurturing, loving, unfaltering,
respectful and full of grace
Her energy abounds
She has no geographical boundaries
She mentors, empathizes and endures
Her heart is shared with all she encounters
Her spirituality is strong and vibrant
She teaches, listens and hears what they say
She cares when no one else is there.
She is a Soroptimist
She is our awardees
She sits beside you and she is you.
Reprinted from Best for Women
HERE IS A RECAP OF 2014 CLUB GRANT WINNERS!
CONGRATULATIONS!
1. SI Central Alberta - The Power of a Girl
2. SI Abbotsford - Abuse Counselling & Resources Library
3. SI Courtenay - Yes You Can
4. SI Kawartha Lakes - Girls on the Run
5. SI Surrey Delta - Totally Beautiful
6. SI Winnipeg - For Girls Self-Esteem Forum
The Soroptimist Foundation of Canada (SFC) Club Grants deadline for
2015 has been changed to June 30, 2015. This year, our SFC’s AGM will
be held in conjunction with the Western Canada Region Leadership
meeting in September in Abbottsford. This change of date and venue
meant we had to move the club deadline.
The rules for clubs to apply for $1000 grants are posted on SFC website
at http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/
PLEASE DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION FORM AT OUR SFC WEBSITE & EMAIL YOUR APPLICATIONS FOR CLUB GRANTS.
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 6
I would like to make my annual donation to
SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA via
DIRECT deposits
Pre-authorisation for Scheduled Donations from my bank account:
Name (please print) ________________________________________
Club: SI of ___________________________________ Region ___________________________
Your Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________
I authorise the SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA to make withdrawals in the amount of $ ________ in the
following withdrawal sequence: □ monthly □ quarterly □ bi-annually □ annually
STARTING DATE: _____________ ______ ______ month) (day) (year)
PLEASE SPECIFY WHERE FUNDS ARE TO BE DIRECTED: □ Endowment / □ SFC Expenses If it
is not indicated, it will be directed to SFC Expenses.
√ attached is my voided cheque required to set up an automatic deposit schedule.
Signature: ____________________________ Date: ___________________
MAIL TO:
Treasurer, Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Sheryl Hopkins , 2455 Cunningham Blvd, Peterborough ON K9H 0B2
Tax receipts will be issued June 30th and December 31st.
Please indicate the name and the mailing address for the receipt if it is for someone else:
Name: _______________________________________
Address: _________________________ ___________________ ____________ _________
(street) (City) (Province) Postal Code
(Registration # 119156594RT001)
SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014 – 2015
ELIZABETH JANE (BJ) GALLAGHER, Chair
Box 841, Rosedale Station
Rosedale AB T0J 2V0
780-689-1091
Club - SI Edmonton
SHERYL HOPKINS, Treasurer
Maple Leaf Pins
2455 Cunningham Blvd
Peterborough, ON K9H 0B2
705-740-9863
Club: SI Peterborough
META FLEMKE, Secretary
102 – 11460 40 Avenue
Edmonton AB T6J 0R5
780-436-9395
Club: SI Edmonton
ALINE CHAN
Grants for Women, Eastern Canada
National Grants Manager / Editor, Cornerstone
87 East Tree Drive, Breslau ON N0B 1M0
519-213-1520
Club: SI Guelph
ANNA DER, Club Grants
Grants for Women, Western Canada [email protected]
8502 - 80 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6C OT3
780-465-7753
Club: SI Edmonton
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 7
SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION of CANADA WWW.SOROPTIMISTFOUNDATION.CA
Spring is finally here and with it comes rebirth, regrowth and renewal.
This year, the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada has made a few changes to the way things are
being done.
We hope to alternate our AGMs in the West and the East. We are mandated by our constitution that the meetings are
to be held in the Fall.
This year, our AGM will be held in conjunction with the SI Western Canada Region Leadership Retreat which is being
held on September 19, 2015 at:
The Sandman Hotel (Abbotsford, BC.)
32720 Simon Ave.,
Abbotsford BC. V2T-0B8
With this change to the date of the AGM, it also becomes necessary that we change the date of the deadline for receiv-
ing Club Grant applications. Therefore, the deadline date for Club Grant applications will now be June 30, and with
that said, we would like those applications to be sent in by e-mail, to either our Club Grants Manager, Anna Der at
[email protected] and / or to the Board Chair, BJ Gallagher at [email protected]. Upon re-
ceipt of the Club Grant applications, an acknowledgment receipt of them will be sent to you by return email. If you do
not receive a confirmation email of receipt, please follow up by sending us an email.
The rationale behind changing the venue and running the AGM in conjunction with the WCR Leadership Retreat this
year is to try to make attending the AGM more cost effective to those attending. These changes will hopefully create
better attendance and add further items of interest to be considered by the attendees.
This year, our Grants for Women Chairs, Aline Chan for Eastern Canada and Anna Der for Western Canada, have
again had many quality applications and it has taken them many hours with their judges to choose the grant winners.
There are two selection processes in both the East and the West. One is the jurying process of the applications to
choose 10 finalists in both regions. The second process is judged by three women who determine the two winners in
the East and two in the West. Since the application process changed three years ago, the number of applications have
been reduced. Previously, applicants would simply send us their application and send off emails to their references
and universities for them to mail us their documentation. We would end up with 7-8 pieces of mail for each applicant.
Aline has had 148 applicants from Eastern Canada to choose from and Anna had 45 applicants from Western Canada.
You will be able to read all about those amazing Grant Winners in this Cornerstone and hopefully you will have an
opportunity at the SFC AGM or at another event to meet some of them and hear them speak.
Club Grants and Grants for Women are what SFC is mandated to support and, of course, it goes without saying that it
takes all of us to make sure SFC is able to continue to grow and support the fine clubs in Canada in the running of
their programs, to support Women and Girls in their communities and to provide the scholarships we do to Canadian
women enrolled in Masters and PhD programs in Canadian Universities.
Please remember to make THE SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA your charity of choice.
Elizabeth Gallagher (BJ)
Chair, Soroptimist Foundation of Canada
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDATION CHAIR
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 8
Grants for Women deadline was January 31, 2014. We re-
ceived 45 applications for Western Canada and 148 for
Eastern Canada. Applications are reviewed by two sets of
judges. The last three are national judges.
NATIONAL JUDGES WERE:
Susan Baldauf is a home economist retired from a long ca-
reer as a secondary school Family Studies teacher/
department head. In Brantford, she promoted day care and
parenting programs for teen moms and worked with com-
munity nutrition education programs. Susan promoted
Family Studies as a member of the provincial Family Stud-
ies Subject Council, writing curriculum, mentoring new
teachers, and facilitating teacher professional development.
In her retirement, she works with quilting guilds and the
Women's Institute.
Joanne Beard studied at the University of Guelph and ob-
tained an honours degree in Applied Science with a major
in Family Studies and a minor in English. She attended
Western University for her Bachelor of Education degree.
She did her Masters of Education at Brock University.
Joanne taught Family Studies, English, Physical Education,
cooperative education and Guidance over a 35 year career
with the Hamilton Board of Education. She taught grades 4
to adults at inner city schools. She finished her last 23 years
as a Family Studies Department Head at an inner city, ESL
predominant school, Sir John A Macdonald. She spent three
summers as summer school principal.
Roseline Dufour is a retired school principal and worked
for the French school board. Her career took her to several
schools in the Brantford and the London area where she
also worked as a school board consultant. In her retirement,
her volunteer activities reflect her love of teaching as she
has quilting classes in her home. She is presently an active
guild member of the Brant Heritage Quilting Guild, taking
the roles of President. She was the Chairperson of the 2014
Quilt Show. Roseline also served as one of our French
translators.
GIVE GENEROUSLY and PROUDLY wear your
MAPLE LEAF PIN
DONORS FOR 2014-2015
RECOGNITION PINS PRESENTED AT
ECR SPRING CONFERENCE
HOSTED BY SI GUELPH AT THE
DELTA HOTEL, GUELPH
&
WCR SPRING CONFERENCE
HOSTED BY SI OSOYOOS AT THE SPIRIT RIDGE VINEYARD AND RESORT
MAY 1-2, 2015
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada AGM
will be held in conjunction with the SI Western Canada Region
Leadership Retreat which is being held on September 19, 2015 at
The Sandman Hotel (Abbotsford, BC.)
32720 Simon Ave.,
Abbotsford BC. V2T-0B8
Known as a "City in the Country", Abbotsford is blessed with
British Columbia's richest agricultural lands, family-friendly
hospitality and sophisticated urban amenities such as stylish
restaurants, accommodations, shopping, art galleries and
refurbished historic neighbourhoods.
Book a vacation and explore the area! Visit Fort Langley National Historic Site, Castle Fun Park, EcoDairy in
partnership with Science World and more...
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g181725-Activities-
Abbotsford_British_Columbia.html
ECR
GOLD PINS
Sheryl Hopkins
RED PIN
Billie Yakiwchuk
WCR
GOLD PINS
Colleen Schmidt
Jean Hird
Gloria Gietz
SILVER PINS
Margot Rutherford
Chari Grant
Beverley Lowsley
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 9
Beverley Lowsley
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2015 THEME: MAKE IT HAPPEN
Cambridge Soroptimist held a Flash Mob in downtown Cambridge and invited
other Clubs to join them. The starting point was kept secret. Neighbours, friends
and family joined in the FUN!
Photos provided by Dianne Long, Secretary, Soroptimist International of Cambridge
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 10
SI EDMONTON CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Derrick Club, Edmonton Photo on the left: Jaynne Carre, President of SI Edmonton, portraying Margaret
Sane one of a few early women pilots.
Carell Wingrave, SI Edmonton, dressed as Cornelia Wood, a mayor of Stoney
Plains and an MLA in Alberta from 1940 - 1955 and again from 1959 - 1967. Cor-
nelia was well know for the various hats so Carell brought quite a selection of antique hats for display. The event was very
well attended with well over 90 guests present.
Submitted by Elizabeth Gallagher (BJ)
TREASURER’S CORNER Balance Reporting - Balance Summary Report
SHERYL HOPKINS, TREASURER
SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA
Report Date: April 13, 2015
Comments from the Treasurer
The Soroptimist Foundation wishes to thank all the members and clubs who have donated to our Endowment Fund this
fiscal year so far. We are coming into another legacy from a former member in Saskatoon, and I am just waiting for the final
details to come from the executor of the estate. We have received funds from the RBC Foundation, ICBC in British Columbia
and from donations made in memory. All of these donations are much appreciated as well and usually come to us as a re-
sult of our members companies donating in their honour.
The official address in Winnipeg: Soroptimist Foundation of Canada
c/o Albina Moran, Partner, Thompson, Dorfman, Sweatman LLP
2200 – 201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MN R3B 3L3
Full accounting of donations, income and expenses of the Foundation can be referenced at the Auditor’s report to
be approved at the Annual General Meeting on September 19, 2015 at:
The Sandman Hotel (Abbotsford, BC.)
32720 Simon Ave.,
Abbotsford BC. V2T-0B8
Account Type Account Currency Balance
BUS DEP Operating Account CAD $1,853.45
BUS DEP Endowment Account CAD $7,183.62
BUS DEP VISA CAD $ 17.67
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 11
FROM THE DESK OF BJ GALLAGHER, CHAIR
The Foundation has had a very good year. We have two bequests pending - those are still in the hands of probate lawyers but
will be wrapped up soon. We have had two substantial donations: one from SI Peterborough ($1001.00) and the other from SI
Langleys ($1000.00). Our Foundation's Portfolio has been doing very well due to changes that we decided to make to our invest-
ment policies and it presently stands at $1,638,567.59.
The total return is 8.06% from July 1st, 2014 to March 31st, 2015. This return is after all costs have been deducted.
The portfolio has earned significantly more income this year, $54,874 so far, compared to $31,710 for the entire 2014
fiscal year.
Equities have continued to preform well, U.S. and European equities in particular have added value.
Currencies have had a big impact, the US Dollar has appreciated meaningfully since last year. Significant US Dollar
holdings have added value.
Your Board members take very seriously our responsibilities in this regard and are very pleased to have the expertise of
Warwick Holland and Lisa Holland, our Royal Bank of Canada Dominion Securities representatives.
I'd like to thank Aline Chan and Anna Der for having chosen our Grants for Women winners this year.
After much deliberation, they have chosen from Western Canada:
Ashley Major is pursuing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Toronto. She was awarded the President’s Medal for
being the graduate who best exemplifies a commitment to academic achievement & community engagement.
Tharsini Sivananthajothy is in her second year in her Masters of Science in Public Health at the University of Alberta.
Her thesis focuses on the area of reproductive health. She works with marginalized populations and feels they need system-
atic changes in policy to improve their quality of life.
From Eastern Canada:
Erin Albanese is entering her second year of a Master’s degree in Counselling and Spirituality at Saint Paul University, a
bilingual university in Ottawa. This training complements her longstanding passion in advocacy for underserved popula-
tions. Through correction of power imbalance and other methods of empowerment, Erin hopes to build stronger communi-
ties and healthier relationships.
Genna Evelyn is a lawyer currently completing a Masters in Law degree in Fundamental and Collective Rights at
Université Laval in Québec City. She focuses on children-at-risk.
With regard to the Grants for Women Awards, we have made some changes to the instructions regarding the application for this
grant - all documentation be enclosed in one package due to the large number of applications. If those requirements are not met,
the application will not be considered and we are making no exceptions in this matter.
We have made other changes to SFC procedures and it was decided at the AGM in October 2014, to hold the 2015 AGM in con-
junction with the WCR Leader ship Retreat in Abbotsford, BC., September 19, 2015 at the Sandman Hotel. We are looking
forward to seeing you there. We are hoping to alternate locations between ECR and WCR.
Another change that we have made affects procedures to the deadline date for applying for Club Grants. We have asked that all
applications be made by June 30 each year, by email, to the Grants Manager and also to the Chair of the Foundation. We have
funds for 5 applications at $1,000.00 each, so be sure to apply soon.
I expect that you are all familiar with the SFC Board:
Meta Flemke, SI Edmonton, our ever so dependable, efficient and friendly secretary.
Sheryl Hopkins, SI Peterborough, our very hardworking and competent treasurer.
Anna Der, SI Edmonton, our WCR Grants for Women Manager & Club Grants Manager. Until Anna joined our board in
July 2014, I was trying to do these jobs as well and it involves a lot of work. Aline Chan, SI Guelph, our ECR Grants for Women Manager and our Cornerstone Editor and thankfully for me my RIGHT
HAND LADY - she is so capable and accomplished in all that she does and we are lucky to have her expertise.
BJ Gallagher, SI Edmonton, Chair of Soroptimist Foundation of Canada - without each of these wonderful ladies as mem-
bers of our Board the job would be much harder and much less fun. With them, being Chair of SFC has been such a joy and
a pleasure to me.
Please continue to support our fantastic Soroptimist Foundation of Canada, you and your support allow us to continue to carry
out the programs of SFC.
"ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH". Helen Keller
Thank you very much for what each and everyone of you do.
BJ Gallagher Chair, Soroptimist Foundation of Canada [email protected]
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada Spring 2015 Page 12
SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA
www.soroptimistfoundation.ca
MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER OF SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA
Donations for this fiscal year 2014-2015 (July 1 — June 30) from individuals have been down slightly. The month-
ly donations made by twelve members across Canada make up a good portion of the funds collected. Other donations
have come in but not as many as last year. The economy may have something to do with this trend.
Gifts from the SI clubs in both Eastern and Western Canada continue to be strong. It would be nice if we could
receive a donation from all clubs in whatever amount they could manage. I realize that some clubs are smaller than oth-
ers and some are new. If each club would do what they can it would be much appreciated.
Companies continue to donate on behalf of their employees and this year we have had donations from the RBC
Foundation, ICBC Insurance Company in BC and KPMG in Toronto. Perhaps there are more possibilities in this area that
could be investigated. These Companies, when they realise that their employees are doing a lot of volunteer work, donate
on behalf of these people.
Many people donate in "Memory Of' a family member or friend.
We have received, or are in the process of receiving, three legacies in the past two years. Again, this is a wonder-
ful way of leaving a donation from yourself to the Foundation and can be done ahead of time via a will. There is a pro-
cess within the Foundation to be able to do this if you wish and you can contact me if you need more information on how
to proceed with it.
Monthly donations, of whatever amount is manageable, regardless of the amount, adds up over time. We have special
pins to award amounts of $500, $1000 and $2500 dollar donations.
We appreciate all donations to our Foundation. Some of the proceeds go to annual scholarships to four young
women trying to better themselves via post-graduate education. One of these winners will be speaking at the Spring
Conference.
Sincerely,
Sheryl Hopkins
Treasurer,
Soroptimist Foundation of Canada
SOROPTIMIST FOUNDATION OF CANADA DAY
FEBRUARY 6
